2013 GMC Sierra

The Sierra adds Sonoma red metallic and heritage blue metallic paint as options on non-Denali models. The 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter models with the six-speed automatic gain automatic engine braking even when the truck is not in tow/haul mode.

The GMC Sierra’s combination of workhorse ability and handsome design has always made it something of a gentleman’s choice for a pickup truck. There are no major mechanical changes for 2013, but the Sierra, a corporate sibling of the Chevrolet Silverado, is still a solid competitor in the full-size-pickup segment. The Sierra’s base powerplant is a 4.3-liter V-6, but it is also available with a selection of V-8 engines, all of which can run on E85 fuel (except for the Hybrid). Buyers looking for better fuel economy can try the XFE (Xtra Fuel Economy) model that gets 22 mpg on the highway, thanks to a variety of minor tweaks, or they can opt for the Hybrid model, which uses GM’s two-mode hybrid system to get 20/23 mpg city/highway. The Sierra can seat anywhere from two to six passengers and offers up to 75 cubic feet of bed space, depending on cab-size and bed-length specifications. With the enhanced trailering package, the Sierra can tow just under 11,000 pounds. If you like to be coddled while you work, go for the top-level Sierra Denali, which has heated and cooled seats, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, a rearview camera, and numerous interior and exterior upgrades that turn this truck from a workhorse to a show horse.